How to Lose Your Freedom in Christ

Eternally freed from sin, as one with Jesus; what a liberty! What a freedom! It is so, and so forever—it cannot be undone. "Wonder, O heavens! be astonished, O earth." I myself do wonder, with great admiration, at the glorious blast of the jubilee trumpet, which has just reached my ear, and touched my heart. … Continue reading How to Lose Your Freedom in Christ

The Christian Civil War

An awful thing has happened. I was traveling, when, during the night, some of the wicked men of Benjamin arose and came after me with the intent to kill me. They raped and killed my concubine, so I divided up her body parts and sent them to the rest of the people of God so … Continue reading The Christian Civil War

The Reward of Sin

Suppose a person were to go to a blacksmith and say to him, 'I want you to make me a long and heavy chain — I will pay you well for it.' The blacksmith, for the sake of the money, commences it; and after toiling hard for some time, finishes it. The person calls, and says on … Continue reading The Reward of Sin

Either God Must Punish Sin or There is No Need for Forgiveness

Why did Jesus have to die? Many object to the fact that Christ had to be put to death and that blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Matt 26:28). They believe this is unbecoming of God. Others believe that if we as humans can forgive each other without punishment and God … Continue reading Either God Must Punish Sin or There is No Need for Forgiveness

Anchored to the Distant Shore

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the … Continue reading Anchored to the Distant Shore

Lay Your Sin-Soiled Hands on the Head of Jesus

Our sin is staggeringly heinous! We are finite beings who have sinned against an infinite God. This means each of our transgressions, and we have many, are worthy of infinite wrath. We are prone to wander, and even as believers, we have defiled ourselves more recently than we would like to admit. John Owen once … Continue reading Lay Your Sin-Soiled Hands on the Head of Jesus

I Will Heal Your Backslidings

"I will heal your backslidings." —Hosea 14:4 Wandering again! And has He not left me to perish? Stumbling and straying on the dark mountains, away from the Shepherd's eye and the Shepherd's fold, shall He not leave the erring wanderer to the fruit of his own ways, and his truant heart to go hopelessly onward … Continue reading I Will Heal Your Backslidings

12 Things God Does for the Believer

"Do you love Me?" - John 21:17 Does not Jesus in thus appealing to me, in effect say: For you, I left the realms of glory, and the adoration of ten thousand times ten thousand holy ones! For you, I became incarnate, took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness … Continue reading 12 Things God Does for the Believer

Wayward Christian: The Lord Wants you to Come Home

"Yet return again to Me, says the Lord."--Jeremiah. 3:1 Could there be a more touching "Thus says the Lord" than this? The voice of Jesus, as it echoed over the mountains and along the valleys of our unregenerate distance from God, seeking and finding and bringing us home, was inexpressibly sweet and irresistibly gracious. But, … Continue reading Wayward Christian: The Lord Wants you to Come Home

You Cannot Satisfy Sin By Sinning – John Owen

Abstain from the passions of the flesh, which war against your soul. - 1 Peter 2:11 The general nature of indwelling sin is that it is always at enmity with us. There can be no terms of peace. It must be abolished and destroyed, every part and parcel of it. Every drop of poison is … Continue reading You Cannot Satisfy Sin By Sinning – John Owen